GeV Energy Range Research Articles

DIFFUSE γ-RAY EMISSION FROM UNRESOLVED BL LAC OBJECTS

Blazars represent the most abundant class of high-energy extragalactic $\gamma$-ray sources. The subset of blazars known as BL Lac objects is on average closer to Earth and characterized by harder spectra at high energy than the whole sample. The fraction of BL Lacs that is too dim to be detected and resolved by current $\gamma$-ray telescopes is therefore expected to contribute to the high-energy isotropic diffuse $\gamma$-ray background (IGRB). The IGRB has been recently measured over a wide energy range by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Gamma-ray Space Telescope ({\it Fermi}). We present a new prediction of the diffuse $\gamma$-ray flux due to the unresolved BL Lac blazar population. The model is built upon the spectral energy distribution and the luminosity function derived from the fraction of BL Lacs detected (and spectrally characterized) in the $\gamma$-ray energy range. We focus our attention on the ${\cal O}(100)$ GeV energy range, predicting the emission up to the TeV scale and taking into account the absorption on the extragalactic background light. In order to better shape the BL Lac spectral energy distribution, we combine the {\it Fermi}-LAT data with Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkov Telescopes measurements of the most energetic sources. Our analysis is carried on separately for low- and intermediate-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs on one hand, and high-synchrotron-peaked BL Lacs on the other one: we find in fact statistically different features for the two. The diffuse emission from the sum of both BL Lac classes increases from about 10$\%$ of the measured IGRB at 100 MeV to $\sim$100$\%$ of the data level at 100 GeV. At energies greater than 100 GeV, our predictions naturally explain the IGRB data, accommodating their softening with increasing energy. Uncertainties are estimated to be within of a factor of two of the best-fit flux up to 500 GeV.

MARS15 code developments driven by the intensity frontier needs

The MARS15(2012) is the latest version of a multi-purpose Monte-Carlo code developed since 1974 for detailed simulation of hadronic and electromagnetic cascades in an arbitrary 3-D geometry of shielding, accelerator, detector and spacecraft components with energy ranging from a fraction of an electronvolt to 100 TeV. Driven by needs of the intensity frontier projects with their Megawatt beams, e.g., ESS, FAIR and Project X, the code has been recently substantially improved and extended. These include inclusive and exclusive particle event generators in the 0.7 to 12 GeV energy range, proton inelastic interaction modeling below 20 MeV, implementation of the EGS5 code for electromagnetic shower simulation at energies from 1 keV to 20 MeV, stopping power description in compound materials, new module for DPA calculations for neutrons from a fraction of eV to 20-150 MeV, user-friendly DeTra-based method to calculate nuclide inventories, and new ROOT-based geometry. Work supported by Fermi Research Alliance, LLC under contract No. DE-AC02-07CH11359 with the U.S. Department of Energy. Presented paper at the 12 International Conference on Radiation Shielding, September 2-7, 2012, Nara, Japan mokhov@fnal.gov

INVESTIGATING THE <em>E</em><sub>p, i</sub> –<em>E</em><sub>iso</sub> CORRELATION

The correlation between the spectral peak photon energy, Ep, and the radiated energy or luminosity (i.e., the “Amati relation” and other correlations derived from it) is one of the central and most debated topics in GRB astrophysics, with implications for physics and the geometry of prompt emission, the identification and understanding of various classes of GRBs (short/long, XRFs,sub-energetic), and GRB cosmology. Fermi is exceptionally suited to provide, also in conjunction with Swift observations, a significant step forward in this field of research. Indeed, one of the main goals of Fermi/GBM is to make accurate measurements of Ep, by exploiting its unprecedented broad energy band from ~8 keV to ~30MeV; in addition, for a small fraction of GRBs, the LAT can extend the spectral measurements up to the GeV energy range, thus allowing a reliable estimate of the bolometric radiated energy/luminosity. We provide a review, an update and a discussion of the impact of Fermi observations in the investigation, understanding and testing of the Ep,i –Eiso (“Amati”) relation.

SEARCH FOR DARK MATTER WITH GAMMA-RAYS: A REVIEW

Successfully launched in June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, formerly named GLAST, has been observing the high-energy gamma-ray sky with unprecedented sensitivity in<br />the 20MeV ÷ 300 GeV energy range and electrons + positrons in the 7 GeV ÷ 1TeV range, opening a new observational window on a wide variety of astrophysical objects.

AGILE DATA CENTER AT ASDC AND AGILE HIGHLIGHTS

We present an overview of the main AGILE Data Center activities and the AGILE scientific highlights during the first 5 years of operations. AGILE is an ASI space mission in joint collaboration with INAF, INFN and CIFS, dedicated to the observation of the gamma-ray Universe. The AGILE satellite was launched on April 23rd, 2007, and is devoted to gamma-ray astrophysics in the 30MeV ÷ 50 GeV energy range, with simultaneous X-ray imaging capability in the 18 ÷ 60 keV band. Despite the small size and budget, AGILE has produced several important scientific results, including the unexpected discovery of strong and rapid gamma-ray flares from the Crab Nebula over daily timescales. This discovery won AGILE PI and the AGILE Team the prestigious Bruno Rossi Prize for 2012, an international award in the field of high energy astrophysics. Thanks to its sky monitoring capability and fast ground segment alert system, AGILE is substantially improving our knowledge of the gamma-ray sky, also making a crucial contribution to the study of the terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) detected in the Earth atmosphere. The AGILE Data Center, part of the ASI Science Data Center (ASDC) located in Frascati, Italy, is in charge of all the science oriented activities related to the analysis, archiving and distribution of AGILE data.

INVESTIGATING THE <em>E</em><sub>p, i</sub> –<em>E</em><sub>iso</sub> CORRELATION

The correlation between the spectral peak photon energy, <em>E</em>p, and the radiated energy or luminosity (i.e., the “Amati relation” and other correlations derived from it) is one of the central and most debated topics in GRB astrophysics, with implications for physics and the geometry of prompt emission, the identification and understanding of various classes of GRBs (short/long, XRFs,sub-energetic), and GRB cosmology. Fermi is exceptionally suited to provide, also in conjunction with Swift observations, a significant step forward in this field of research. Indeed, one of the main goals of Fermi/GBM is to make accurate measurements of <em>E</em>p, by exploiting its unprecedented broad energy band from ~8 keV to ~30MeV; in addition, for a small fraction of GRBs, the LAT can extend the spectral measurements up to the GeV energy range, thus allowing a reliable estimate of the bolometric radiated energy/luminosity. We provide a review, an update and a discussion of the impact of Fermi observations in the investigation, understanding and testing of the <em>E</em><sub>p,i</sub> –<em>E</em><sub>iso</sub> (“Amati”) relation.

TIME-DEPENDENT MODELS FOR BLAZAR EMISSION WITH THE SECOND-ORDER FERMI ACCELERATION

The second-order Fermi acceleration (Fermi-II) driven by turbulence may be responsible for the electron acceleration in blazar jets. We test this model with time-dependent simulations. The hard electron spectrum predicted by the Fermi-II process agrees with the hard photon spectrum of 1ES 1101-232. For other blazars that show softer spectra, the Fermi-II model requires radial evolution of the electron injection rate and/or diffusion coefficient in the outflow. Such evolutions can yield a curved electron spectrum, which can reproduce the synchrotron spectrum of Mrk 421 from the radio to the X-ray regime.The photon spectrum in the GeV energy range of Mrk 421 is hard to fit with a synchrotron self-Compton model. However, if we introduce an external radio photon field with a luminosity of $4.9 \times 10^{38}~\mbox{erg}~\mbox{s}^{-1}$, GeV photons are successfully produced via inverse Compton scattering. The temporal variability of the diffusion coefficient or injection rate causes flare emission. The observed synchronicity of X-ray and TeV flares implies a decrease of the magnetic field in the flaring source region.

MAGIC upper limits on the GRB 090102 afterglow

Indications of a GeV component in the emission from GRBs are known since the EGRET observations during the 1990's and they have been confirmed by the data of the Fermi satellite. These results have, however, shown that our understanding of GRB physics is still unsatisfactory. The new generation of Cherenkov observatories and in particular the MAGIC telescope, allow for the first time the possibility to extend the measurement of GRBs from several tens up to hundreds of GeV energy range. Both leptonic and hadronic processes have been suggested to explain the possible GeV/TeV counterpart of GRBs. Observations with ground-based telescopes of very high energy photons (E>30 GeV) from these sources are going to play a key role in discriminating among the different proposed emission mechanisms, which are barely distinguishable at lower energies. MAGIC telescope observations of the GRB 090102 (z=1.547) field and Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) data in the same time interval are analysed to derive upper limits of the GeV/TeV emission. We compare these results to the expected emissions evaluated for different processes in the framework of a relativistic blast wave model for the afterglow. Simultaneous upper limits with Fermi and a Cherenkov telescope have been derived for this GRB observation. The results we obtained are compatible with the expected emission although the difficulties in predicting the HE and VHE emission for the afterglow of this event makes it difficult to draw firmer conclusions. Nonetheless, MAGIC sensitivity in the energy range of overlap with space-based instruments (above about 40 GeV) is about one order of magnitude better with respect to Fermi. This makes evident the constraining power of ground-based observations and shows that the MAGIC telescope has reached the required performance to make possible GRB multiwavelength studies in the very high energy range.

FERMILARGE AREA TELESCOPE DETECTION OF A BREAK IN THE GAMMA-RAY SPECTRUM OF THE SUPERNOVA REMNANT CASSIOPEIA A

We report on observations of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A in the energy range from 100 MeV to 100 GeV using 44 months of observations from the Large Area Telescope on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We perform a detailed spectral analysis of this source and report on a low-energy break in the spectrum at $1.72^{+1.35}_{-0.89}$ GeV. By comparing the results with models for the gamma-ray emission, we find that hadronic emission is preferred for the GeV energy range.

Bremsstrahlung gamma rays from light dark matter

We discuss the often-neglected role of bremsstrahlung processes on the interstellar gas in computing indirect signatures of Dark Matter (DM) annihilation in the Galaxy, particularly for light DM candidates in the phenomenologically interesting \U0001d4aa(10) GeV mass range. Especially from directions close to the Galactic Plane, the γ-ray spectrum is altered via two effects: directly, by the photons emitted in the bremsstrahlung process by energetic electrons which are among the DM annihilation byproducts; indirectly, by the modification of the same electron spectrum, due to the additional energy loss process in the diffusion-loss equation (e.g. the resulting inverse Compton emission is altered).We quantify the importance of the bremsstrahlung emission in the GeV energy range, showing that it is sometimes the dominant component of the γ-ray spectrum. We also find that, in regions in which bremsstrahlung dominates energy losses, the related γ-ray emission is only moderately sensitive to possible large variations in the gas density.Still, we stress that, for computing precise spectra in the (sub-)GeV range, it is important to obtain a reliable description of the Galaxy gas distribution as well as to compute self-consistently the γ-ray emission and the solution to the diffusion-loss equation.For example, these are crucial issues to quantify and interpret meaningfully γ-ray map `residuals' in the inner Galaxy.

Hints of an axion-like particle mixing in the GeV gamma-ray blazar data?

Axion-Like Particles (ALPs), if exist in nature, are expected to mix with photons in the presence of an external magnetic field. The energy range of photons which undergo strong mixing with ALPs depends on the ALP mass, on its coupling with photons as well as on the external magnetic field and particle density configurations. Recent observations of blazars by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope in the 0.1–300 GeV energy range show a break in their spectra in the 1–10 GeV range. We have modeled this spectral feature for the flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C454.3 during its November 2010 outburst, assuming that a significant fraction of the gamma rays convert to ALPs in the large scale jet of this blazar. Using theoretically motivated models for the magnetic field and particle density configurations in the kiloparsec scale jet, outside the broad-line region, we find an ALP mass ma ∼ (1−3)⋅10−7 eV and coupling gaγ ∼ (1−3)⋅10−10 GeV−1 after performing an illustrative statistical analysis of spectral data in four different epochs of emission. The precise values of ma and gaγ depend weakly on the assumed particle density configuration and are consistent with the current experimental bounds on these quantities. We apply this method and ALP parameters found from fitting 3C454.3 data to another flat-spectrum radio quasar PKS1222+216 (4C+21.35) data up to 400 GeV, as a consistency check, and found good fit. We find that the ALP-photon mixing effect on the GeV spectra may not be washed out for any reasonable estimate of the magnetic field in the intergalactic media.

The missing GeV -ray binary: searching for HESS J0632+057 with Fermi-LAT

The very high energy (VHE; >100 GeV) source HESS J0632+057 has been recently confirmed as a γ-ray binary, a subclass of the high-mass X-ray binary population, through the detection of an orbital period of 321 d. We performed a deep search for the emission of HESS J0632+057 in the GeV energy range using data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT). The analysis was challenging due to the source being located in close proximity to the bright γ-ray pulsar PSR J0633+0632 and lying in a crowded region of the Galactic plane where there is prominent diffuse emission. We formulated a Bayesian block algorithm adapted to work with weighted photon counts, in order to define the off-pulse phases of PSR J0633+0632. A detailed spectral-spatial model of a 5° circular region centred on the known location of HESS J0632+057 was generated to accurately model the LAT data. No significant emission from the location of HESS J0632+057 was detected in the 0.1–100 GeV energy range integrating over ∼3.5 yr of data, with a 95 per cent flux upper limit of F0.1-100 GeV < 3 × 10− 8 ph cm−2 s−1. A search for emission over different phases of the orbit also yielded no significant detection. A search for source emission on shorter time-scales (days–months) did not yield any significant detections. We also report the results of a search for radio pulsations using the 100-m Green Bank Telescope. No periodic signals or individual dispersed bursts of a likely astronomical origin were detected. We estimated the flux density limit of < 90/40 μJy at 2/9 GHz. The LAT flux upper limits combined with the detection of HESS J0632+057 in the 136–400 TeV energy band by the MAGIC collaboration imply that the VHE spectrum must turn over at energies <136 GeV placing constraints on any theoretical models invoked to explain the γ-ray emission.

Constraining the location of rapid gamma-ray flares in the flat spectrum radio quasar 3C 273

We present a \gamma-ray photon flux and spectral variability study of the flat-spectrum radio quasar 3C 273 over a rapid flaring activity period between September 2009 to April 2010. Five major flares are observed in the source during this period. The most rapid flare observed in the source has a flux doubling time of 1.1 hr. The rapid \gamma-ray flares allow us to constrain the location and size of the \gamma-ray emission region in the source. The \gamma \gamma-opacity constrains the Doppler factor, $\delta_{\gamma} \geq$ 10 for the highest energy (15 GeV) photon observed by the {\it Fermi}-Large Area Telescope (LAT). Causality arguments constrain the size of the emission region to 1.6$\times 10^{15}$ cm. The \gamma-ray spectra measured over this period show clear deviations from a simple power law with a break in 1-2 GeV energy range. We discuss possible explanations for the origin of the \gamma-ray spectral breaks. Our study suggests that the \gamma-ray emission region in 3C 273 is located within the broad line region ($<$1.6 pc). The spectral behavior and temporal characteristics of the individual flares indicate the presence of multiple shock scenarios at the base of the jet.

First particle identification with a Disc-DIRC detector

The PANDA experiment at the future FAIR laboratory at GSI in Darmstadt, Germany, will require excellent particle identification for its study of proton–antiproton reactions in the few GeV energy range. In the confined space of the PANDA Target Spectrometer, two RICH-type Cherenkov detectors mainly aim at pion–kaon separation: a Barrel-DIRC detector patterned after the BaBar-DIRC covering the central angles and a Disc-DIRC detector for the forward theta angle range from 5° to 22°. Such a Disc-DIRC design has not yet been used in particle physics experiments. A demonstrator prototype, one quarter segment scaled to 80% of the PANDA geometry, constructed at Giessen university and equipped with 480 sensor pixels, has measured particles of several GeV/c in a secondary mixed beam delivered by the PS T9 test beamline at CERN in October 2012. A first analysis of the recorded hit patterns is presented.

GRB 090510: A DISGUISED SHORT GAMMA-RAY BURST WITH THE HIGHEST LORENTZ FACTOR AND CIRCUMBURST MEDIUM

GRB 090510, observed both by Fermi and AGILE satellites, is the first bright short-hard Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) with an emission from the keV up to the GeV energy range. Within the Fireshell model, we interpret the faint precursor in the light curve as the emission at the transparency of the expanding e+e- plasma: the Proper-GRB (P-GRB). From the observed isotropic energy we assume a total energy Ee+e-=(1.10+-0.06)*10^53 erg and derive a Baryon load B=(1.45+-0.28)*10^(-3) and a Lorentz factor at transparency Gamma=(6.7+-1.6)*10^2. The main emission 0.4 s after the initial spike is interpreted as the extended afterglow, due to the interaction of the ultrarelativistic baryons with the CircumBurst Medium (CBM). Using the condition of fully radiative regime, we infer a CBM average spherically symmetric density of nCBM=(1.85+-0.14)10^3 cm^(-3), one of the highest found in the Fireshell model. The value of the filling factor, 1.5*10^(-10)<R<3.8*10^(-8), leads to the estimate of filaments with densities nfil=nCBM/R=(10^6 - 10^14) cm^(-3). The sub-MeV and the MeV emissions are well reproduced. When compared to the canonical GRBs with nCBM=1 cm^(-3) and to the disguised short GRBs with nCBM=10^(-3) cm^(-3), the case of GRB 090510 leads to the existence of a new family of bursts exploding in an over-dense galactic region with hn nCBM=10^3 cm^(-3). The joint effect of the high Lorentz factor and the high density compresses in time and "inflates" in intensity the extended afterglow, making it appear as a short burst, which we here define as "disguised short GRB by excess". The determination of the above parameters values may represent an important step towards the explanation of the GeV emission.

Fermi/LAT detection of extraordinary variability in the gamma-ray emission of the blazar PKS 1510-089

We have reanalyzed the giant outburst of the blazar PKS 1510-089 (z=0.36) that occurred on 2011 October-November. The gamma-ray flux in the 0.1-100 GeV energy range exceeded the value of 10^-5 ph/cm2/s for several days. The peak flux was reached on 2011 October 19, with a value of 4.4 x 10^-5 ph/cm2/s, which in turn corresponds to a luminosity of 2 x 10^49 erg/s. A very short timescale variability was measured. Particularly on 2011 October 18, the flux-doubling time was as short as 20 minutes. This is the shortest variability ever detected in the MeV-GeV energy band. We compared our analysis with two other outbursts observed in 2009 March and 2012 February-March, when the blazar was also detected by HESS and MAGIC to infer information about the emission at hundreds of GeV.

Search for dark matter in compact hydrogen clouds

Abstract The recently published Galactic Arecibo L-Band Feed Array-H i Compact Cloud Catalogue lists 20 neutral hydrogen clouds that might pinpoint previously undiscovered high-latitude dwarf galaxies. Detection of an associated gamma-ray dark matter signal could provide a route to distinguish unambiguously between truly dark-matter-dominated systems that have accumulated neutral hydrogen but have not successfully ignited star formation and pure gaseous structures devoid of dark matter. We use 4.3 years of Fermi observations to derive gamma-ray flux upper limits in the 1–300 GeV energy range for the sample. Limits on gamma rays from pair annihilation of dark matter are also presented depending on the yet unknown astrophysical factors.

Extension of the Liège Intra Nuclear Cascade model to light ion-induced collisions for medical and space applications

The Liège Intranuclear Cascade model, INCL4, has been developed to describe spallation reactions, i.e. nucleon and light charged particle induced collisions in the 100 MeV – 3 GeV energy range. Extensive comparisons with experimental data covering all possible reaction channels have shown that, coupled to the ABLA07 de-excitation code from GSI, it is presently one of the most reliable models in its domain. Recently, the treatment of composite particle as projectlies has been revisited mainly to improve predictions related to secondary reactions in spallation targets. An example regarding astatine production in LBE targets will be shown. Also, the model has been extended to light ion (up to oxygen) induced reactions, mostly for medical and space application purposes. This version is available in GEANT4. The first results indicate that the model agrees at least as well as other models with experimental data. In this paper, the different assumptions and ingredients of the model will be presented and comparisons with relevant experimental data will be shown. The sensitivity to the de-excitation stage is also discussed.

The average GeV-band emission from gamma-ray bursts

We analyze the emission in the 0.3-30 GeV energy range of Gamma-Ray Bursts detected with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We concentrate on bursts that were previously only detected with the Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor in the keV energy range. These bursts will then be compared to the bursts that were individually detected with the Large Area Telescope at higher energies. To estimate the emission of faint GRBs we use non-standard analysis methods and sum over many GRBs to find an average signal which is significantly above background level. We use a subsample of 99 GRBs listed in the Burst Catalog from the first two years of observation. Although mostly not individually detectable, the bursts not detected by the Large Area Telescope on average emit a significant flux in the energy range from 0.3 GeV to 30 GeV, but their cumulative energy fluence is only 8% of that of all GRBs. Likewise, the GeV-to-MeV flux ratio is less and the GeV-band spectra are softer. We confirm that the GeV-band emission lasts much longer than the emission found in the keV energy range. The average allsky energy flux from GRBs in the GeV band is 6.4*10^-4 erg cm^-2 yr^-1 or only 4% of the energy flux of cosmic rays above the ankle at 10^18.6 eV.

EMMA

EMMA stands for Electron Model for Many Applications and is expected to demonstrate the novel concept of a non-scaling Fixed Field Alternating Gradient (FFAG) accelerator. A non-scaling FFAG accelerator was originally invented to accelerate muons up to a few tens of GeV energy range although it is now hoped to have a wider variety of applications such as a proton driver for Accelerator Driven Sub-critical Reactor (ADSR). We will report the recent developments of the EMMA experiment, with more emphasis on acceleration of a muon beam.